"Will he believe it?"

Ding Fei immediately understood Chen Che’s meaning.

’This is a plot to make the tiger devour the wolf—to have them tear each other apart!’

"Whether he believes it or not, he’ll investigate. Besides, a man like him won’t hold up under scrutiny."

Chen Che said lightly.

Most Loose Cultivators had blood on their hands, and the higher their cultivation, the more likely this was. In the Market, anyone could have dabbled in murder for treasure.

Few were clean if you investigated them thoroughly.

Ding Fei’s eyes lit up as he picked up the train of thought.

"Exactly! Once he starts investigating, a conflict is inevitable!"

Recently, the number of cultivators in the Market had surged.

Seeing the return of numerous Loose Cultivators, Zhao Ping, who had previously let the matter drop, was showing signs of resuming his hunt for the culprit.

If someone were to tip him off now, Zhao Ping would definitely not give up the chase.

At this thought, Ding Fei’s face lit up with excitement.

"Don’t worry, I’ll handle this cleanly and leave no loose ends."

With that, he hurried away.

Zhao Deyou stood aside, listening with his hair on end.

He never would have imagined that his boss and the Shopkeeper would directly plot against a Late-stage Qi Refining expert and a Jinyun Valley disciple. However, he could only pretend he heard nothing, not daring to utter a single word, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

For though today’s events weren’t his fault, they had passed through his hands.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Chen Che say unhurriedly,

"Zhao Deyou, if I recall correctly, your eldest son is twelve this year, isn’t he? I wonder, has Jinyun Valley accepted him as a disciple?"

Zhao Deyou jolted, not understanding why he was being asked this. He could only brace himself and answer,

"Replying to you, Boss, he is indeed twelve."

"As for Jinyun Valley... alas, my son is not blessed by fate. He only has a Lower Spirit Root, so he has no chance of getting in!"

Chen Che nodded slightly. This was within his expectations.

In this world, Cultivation Techniques were incomplete and there was almost no system, making cultivation difficult.

Moreover,

educational resources were scarce. The difficulty of training a disciple far exceeded that on the Earth Element Star.

The Sects and Noble Families were even less willing to make a losing investment, so they only selected top-tier disciples to nurture. And even after these top-tier disciples entered the valley, they had to start from the bottom, step by step, so their character and perseverance could be tested.

"The shop is short a waiter. In a few days, have your eldest son come to work at the shop, but his wages will be half of yours. You can teach him the basics of identifying medicinal herbs, and after some time, I will teach you Alchemy. Are you willing?"

"I am, I am!"

Zhao Deyou was ecstatic.

This little shop might not look like much.

But the boss had connections with a Jinyun Valley disciple, was an Alchemy Master himself, and could even refine Tier One High Grade Elixirs.

To be able to work under such a boss was something many Loose Cultivators could only dream of. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Don’t be so quick to agree. A technique cannot be taught lightly!"

Chen Che said calmly, "You need to be clear about the consequences of learning my skills!"

"I am clear!"

Zhao Deyou said, his voice firm and strong.

He knew that once he learned, he would belong to the Pill Shop in life and in death. The lives and fortunes of his entire family would henceforth be staked on this shop. If he were to betray them in the future, he would be branded a traitor who had betrayed his master and ancestors, a pariah to the world.

Anyone would have the right to execute him!

And yet, he still agreed without a hint of hesitation.

...

In the Market, Zhao Ping returned to the restaurant, his face a mask of shock and suspicion.

"I couldn’t catch them!"

Just now,

he had been drinking with his cousin when a small stone suddenly flew in.

He immediately gave chase but found nothing out of the ordinary.

"Cousin, there was a drawing attached to that stone."

Zhao Kang came forward and handed him a slip of paper.

There were no words on the paper, only a drawing of a man with a square face, a wide mouth, and a greatsword on his back.

"It’s him?"

Zhao Ping’s expression changed drastically the moment he saw it.

"You know him?" Zhao Kang was puzzled.

Zhao Ping nodded, his expression grim. "That’s Li Hong, Tributor Li’s younger brother!"

...

After that, a few more peaceful days passed.

Ding Fei found out that not only had the square-faced, broad-mouthed man not left, but he had even bought a small courtyard outside Jinyun Valley and settled in.

As for Zhao Ping, there was no movement from him whatsoever.

Chen Che and Ding Fei suddenly realized that the square-faced man’s identity was likely anything but ordinary.

At the same time, the situation on the front lines was not optimistic.

Hu Yao and his group of disciples had yet to return, and a second group had already been dispatched to follow them.

However,

during these days, under the dual effects of the Shocking God Song and the Concentration Incense, Chen Che’s Divine Sense Seed had grown stronger and stronger. It was just one opportunity away from breaking through.

In addition, both his cultivation and his Qi and Blood were steadily improving.

On this day, he had just arrived at the Market to get materials to continue refining the Concentration Incense when a Jinyun Valley disciple suddenly appeared at his door.

"You want me to go to Jinyun Valley?"

Chen Che was somewhat astonished.

Back when he hadn’t yet started his cultivation, he had indeed planned to enter Jinyun Valley. Even now, he had never given up the idea of going inside for a look.

He just wasn’t willing to go in this way.

"Can’t you be a little flexible? Our boss and Master Hu Yao from the valley are the closest of friends, like blood brothers!"

Seeing the situation, Ding Fei calmly stepped forward and discreetly tried to slip the man a Spirit Stone.

Unexpectedly, the man didn’t dare to accept it. He looked directly at Chen Che and said, "Fellow Cultivator, this is an order from the Vice Valley Master... People like me are of low standing and have no say. We can’t make exceptions, so please forgive me!"

"It’s actually an order from the Vice Valley Master!"

Ding Fei’s expression changed.

The Valley Master was often in seclusion, so many matters were handled by the Vice Valley Master, Lu Yi.

Zhao Deyou was even more alarmed and uncertain, worried that their scheme had been exposed.

"May I ask what this is about?" Chen Che quickly asked.

"That I do not know."

The man was getting impatient. "Fellow Cultivator, please prepare yourself and follow me into the valley!" he urged.

’It might not be a bad thing.’

Chen Che thought to himself. The messenger was only at the Qi Refining Second Layer.

If Jinyun Valley meant him harm, they wouldn’t have sent a mere errand boy.

He nodded to Ding Fei and Zhao Deyou before following the disciple away.

Jinyun Valley was located in the heart of the Market.

The entire valley was sealed by an Array. Only those with a Token could pass through the Magic Array.

Led by the disciple, Chen Che passed directly through the Array and saw a towering, magnificent valley. The entrance to the valley was sealed by a massive bronze gate. This colossal gate, a hundred feet high, enclosed the entire valley, creating an undisturbed Peach Blossom Spring.

Inside the Valley, the azure sky was washed clean.

The bright sun shone down, illuminating a massive mountain spring that cascaded downwards like a dancing Silver Dragon.

In a quaint, antique courtyard, Chen Che met Lu Yi.

The Vice Valley Master was about fifty years old, dressed in a black robe. His aura was magnificent and powerful, and as he sat there, he resembled a fierce tiger.

His Qi and Blood were abundant, his True Essence overflowing.

’Looks like this Vice Valley Master is only one step away from Foundation Establishment!’

Chen Che thought to himself as he stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"Greetings, Valley Master Lu!"

"Alchemist Chen, you are as impressive as they say."

Lu Yi nodded slightly and waved a hand. "Please, sit!"

"Valley Master Lu, you invited me here. I wonder..."

"No rush, no rush. First, try some of our valley’s unique Mountain Bamboo Spirit Wine."

Lu Yi personally poured a cup of Spirit Wine for Chen Che.

After speaking, he raised his own cup and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Chen Che also drank his in one go.

There was no harshness at all. Instead, it was smooth on the palate. After entering his stomach, wisps of pure Spiritual Qi slowly spread out, nourishing his internal organs.

"Good wine!" Chen Che exclaimed.

"Alchemist Chen is a straightforward man!"

Lu Yi smiled in approval and began to speak at a leisurely pace.

"This is Mountain Bamboo Spirit Wine that has been aged for a century. It requires the shoots of Tier One High Grade Spiritual Bamboo and the first Condensed Dew of each day to make. Ordinary people never get a chance to drink it!"

The conversation that followed consisted of Lu Yi asking about Chen Che’s situation in the Market, mostly offering praise.

On the surface, the Vice Valley Master seemed to be an approachable person.

But one could know a person’s face without knowing their heart, so Chen Che remained vigilant.

After they had been drinking for a while,

Lu Yi’s face was flushed. He slowly rose to his feet and, to Chen Che’s surprise, bowed deeply. "I wonder if you, my friend, would be willing to come to my Jinyun Valley and serve as a Tributor?"